Inmates On Rampage After Lockdown Lifted

Prisoners set fires, destroyed appliances and threw furniture out windows at the federal prison here Tuesday, a day after officials lifted a lockdown begun when inmates at five other prisons rioted.

The riot lasted nearly seven hours before officials regained control of the medium-security McKean prison.

No employees were hurt, but one of the 1,130 inmates was slightly injured, said Cam Lindsay, spokesman for the prison near the New York-Pennsylvania border.

Like other federal prisons nationwide, McKean was locked down over most of the weekend following uprisings last week at five federal prisons in Allenwood; Talladega, Ala.; Memphis, Tenn.; Greenville, Ill.; and El Reno, Okla.

The disturbances were thought to be related to Congress’ refusal to reduce sentences for crack cocaine convictions.

McKean is considered a model in the federal prison system. Though 48 percent above capacity, the six-year-old institution has had no escapes, homicides or reported sexual assaults.